COLUMBIA, S.C. -
South Carolina softball improved to 6-0 on the season as they defeated the College of Charleston 4-0 on Saturday in the Gamecock Invitational. Ashley Smith drove in two runs for USC including her fourth home run of the season as she went 2-for-3 with one run. Aleca Johnson recorded her third complete game and her second shutout as she improved to 3-0. Johnson struck out a season high eight batters and gave up four hits. Brittany Shepherd fell to 0-1 as she threw six innings, allowed four runs and nine hits.

Nancy Crane led off the first with a single to left field then stole second, which placed her in scoring position. Crane was able to come home and give USC a 1-0 lead when she scored on an RBI double by Ashley Smith.

Carolina added to its home run tally for the season as they hit their 12th long ball in six games when Smith drove a solo shot to left field, giving USC a 2-0 lead in the fifth. It was Smith's second run of the game for the Gamecocks as well.

Freshman McKenna Hughes joined the home run list as she hit her career first in the sixth and put USC up 3-0. The home run was USC's second of the game, fourth of the day and 13th of the season.

Also n the sixth, Amber Curtis drove in Chrissy Schoonmaker with a two-out single to left field, giving Carolina a 4-0 lead. Smith then followed with a walk to load the bases but Cornett popped up for the final out and USC's last at bat.

In the seventh, Johnson gave up a single to Jacquie Rothey to lead off the inning but then struck out Amanda Cone and Rothey was thrown out on a fielders choice for two outs. Johnson then struck out Erica Nabors for the final out of the game.